I Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
It seems that many people enjoy being scared. Some of the biggest movies are evidence of that. Some are just outright horrifying, but others are more subtle - not lots of special effects, just the slow build up of suspense, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats. Lots of built-in jump scares. But while many people see that as entertainment, most generally would like to avoid it in real life.
Anxiety is everywhere. A lot of people suffer from it. A lot of people spend a lot of time talking about it, posting about, and thinking about it. It’s as though they are keeping it close to them. But anxiety is not new. Peter wrote about it 2,000 years ago. He had a unique prescription for anxiety: chuck it! Technically the word is cast, but it means the same thing!
Far from one more self-help remedy, Peter said that we should cast our anxiety on Jesus. He cares for you. But more than that, He is well able to deal with it. Anxiety often grows around the unknown, the what-ifs of life. We just can’t see around the next corner, and we’re concerned what might be there! But Jesus can!
Just before Jesus fed the 5,000 he asked Philip what he thought should be done to feed the people. Philip was without an answer! He was completely powerless to do anything! But Jesus was just seeing where Philip was at, so to speak. We are told in John 6 that Jesus already knew what He was going to do! Isn’t that fantastic?! Jesus knows what is going to happen, He knows what’s around the corner. And He knows what He plans to do about it. He is never surprised. And He has unlimited resources!
You’ve dealt with your anxiety long enough. Wouldn’t it make sense to cast it all on Him? He cares for you!
Blessings,
Pastor Russ
